One man 038; the Armada

First semifinal pits best individual in Portugals Ronaldo against the best overall team in Spain

For Spain its more about stopping one man,while for Portugal it will be about containing a whole team when the sides meet in Wednesdays European Championship semifinals. While Cristiano Ronaldo holds the keys to Portugals chances of taking a step closer to a first major trophy,Spains charge toward an unprecedented third straight title is anchored in selfless teamwork.

Spain simply does not need a Ronaldo,Portugal desperately does. After a difficult start to the tournament this year,Ronaldo has stepped up when it matters,scoring three goals in the last two games to move Portugal within touching distance of its first final since Euro 2004,where it lost on home soil to outsider Greece. This time,Portugal will be very much the outsider,the dark horse,at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk.

We have to be ourselves and not change the way we play just because were going to face the reigning World and European champion, Portugal defender Joao Pereira said. Were going to play our own game. That is more than France did in last Saturdays quarterfinal,when it tried to stifle Spain at the expense of its own ambition,and meekly lost 2-0. Meek is not a word often associated with Ronaldo,whose 86 league goals in the past two seasons with Real Madrid make him the only player who comes close to rivaling Barcelonas Lionel Messi.

Game plan

Although Portugal has another skillful player in winger Nani,the team is under no illusions how to play with fast breaks and by getting the ball up to Ronaldo whenever and as quickly as possible.

Our weapons are not a secret, midfielder Custodio said. Will this be Portugals year? I hope so.

Portugal beat Spain 4-0 in a friendly match in November,2010 Spains heaviest defeat since winning the Cup. But only victory on Saturday will heal the wounds from Portugals ill-tempered 1-0 loss to Spain in the second round of the World Cup two years ago,in which Spain shackled Ronaldo.

Spain will be confident of doing so again,with four of Ronaldos teammates likely to be playing: goalkeeper Iker Casillas,Sergio Ramos,Xabi Alonso,and Alvaro Arbeloa.

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The three Madrid players for Portugal are Ronaldo,Pepe and Fabio Coentrao. Ive spoken to Portugals Madrid players and the three of them look very good, Alonso said. Theyve carried over their club form into the tournament. Throw in Spains five Barcelona players Andres Iniesta,Xavi Hernandez,Gerard Pique,Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas and the match has all the elements of being a mini-El Clasico.

Whether Pepe can keep his sometimes dangerous tackling under control may prove crucial to Portugals chances on Wednesday. The Spanish have dominated possession in every match,but have yet to provide the sparkling football many observers expect of them.

Asked whether Spains suffocating ball-retention and relentless closing down is making the defending champions a boring team to watch,Alonso says That is the press and the medias opinion. Were confident in how we play and were not going to change our style.

Were very confident and secure in how we play, the midfielder added. Coach Vicente del Bosque gives us a lot of liberty,he has a lot of faith in us,so we will continue this way. Alonso,who scored both goals against France,expects a close contest.

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Most of our two teams remain the same as two years ago. Portugal is riding high after reaching the semifinals, he said. Its going to be a tough game. But the measure of Spains confidence is that they wont be forced into significant changes just because Ronaldos playing.

We can make small adjustments sure, Alonso said. But playing as a team is the best way to stop any player,even Ronaldo.

Spain has the winning know-how,but Portugal does have one small advantage,two days longer to prepare. We have to live with it, Alonso said. It cant be an excuse.

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